Russian President Vladimir Putin made a historic visit to North Korea, his first in 24 years, to strengthen defense ties between the two countries. The visit comes at a time when both Russia and North Korea are facing international isolation due to their actions, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leading to sanctions against Moscow. The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of providing Russia with arms, including ballistic missiles used in Ukraine, despite the North denying these claims. Putin thanked North Korea for their support during the war in Ukraine in an article published before his visit.
Putin praised North Korea for their resilience in the face of U.S. economic pressure and military threats, as both countries are under United Nations sanctions. North Korea thanked Russia for using its UN veto to end monitoring of sanctions violations in March. The United States expressed concerns about the implications of Putin’s visit on security in South Korea. The two Koreas remain technically at war, with the border between them heavily fortified. South Korea fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the border, highlighting the security concerns in the region.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg criticized Putin’s visit, calling attention to the Russian President’s relationship with authoritarian leaders like Kim Jong Un. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged the international community to counter the alliance between Putin and Kim by increasing arms supplies to Ukraine. North Korea seeks advanced military technology to enhance its weapons programs, with experts expecting discussions on strengthening cooperation in various sectors during Putin’s visit.
The Kremlin confirmed that Russia plans to sign a “a strategic partnership” treaty with North Korea, as Pyongyang seeks support in areas like tourism, agriculture, and mining in exchange for military supplies from Russia. North Korea’s chronic resource shortages make it reliant on these exchanges, with other issues like deploying North Korean workers or providing energy likely to be discussed behind the scenes. Russia’s visit to North Korea underscores the growing ties between the two countries, amid international sanctions and security tensions in the region.
Putin’s visit to North Korea aims to deepen defense cooperation between the two countries, with both Russia and North Korea facing international isolation due to their actions. The United States has accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia, which the North denies. Putin praised North Korea for its resilience in the face of sanctions and threats, while North Korea thanked Russia for its support at the United Nations. The visit has raised concerns about security implications in South Korea, with the region still technically at war. Despite these challenges, both countries are expected to discuss strengthening cooperation in various sectors during Putin’s visit.
The relationship between Putin and Kim Jong Un has drawn criticism from international leaders, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighting Putin’s reliance on authoritarian leaders for support. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister called for increased arms supplies to counter the alliance between Russia and North Korea. North Korea’s need for military technology to enhance its weapons programs makes it dependent on such exchanges with Russia. The visit reaffirms the growing partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang, with discussions likely to focus on strategic aspects of their cooperation.
